Loom shuttle



Nov. 30, 1937. F. E; DOUGLAS LOOM SHUTTLE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 INVENTOR. 64/18.

Fez-00c E 000 BY M 62% ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 LOOM SHUTTLE Fredric E. Douglas, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., at corporation of Maine Application August 12,

Claims.

The present invention pertains to loom shuttles for bobbin changing looms and more particularly to the bobbin holding means in such shuttles.

Loom'shuttles of the type to which my inven- 5 tion applies commonly comprise a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and opposed bobbin gripping jaws at one end of the cavity for releasably holding a bobbin in the shuttle. As previously constructed, these jaws were integral- 1y joined at their shank ends and acted as springs which flexed to grip the bobbin and to permit the bobbin to be inserted into and ejected from the shuttle. action of such spring jaws is obtainable only by making the jaws of such thickness that the required flexing subjects them to very high stresses, which tends to induce breakage of the jaws.

It has been proposed to overcome the aforesaid stresses in the bobbin gripping jaws by pro- 90 viding separate pivoted jaws yieldingly urged together by a coiled compression spring. Such proposed construction has not proven to be successfill and is not used commercially, partly because there is not sufficient room in the shuttle body for a coiled compression spring of the required size and strength.

I propose to provide a loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity as aforesaid, separate opposed bobbin gripping 3O jaws pivotally mounted at one end of the cavity, and a separate spring for yieldingly urging the jaws together, which spring shall be constructed arid arranged to provide adequate gripping action of the jaws without being subjected to dan- 35 gerously high stresses when the jaws are moved by the insertion or ejection of a bobbin.

The aforementioned and other objects of the invention are accomplished in the construction i1- lustrated on the accompanying drawing, of

40 which: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end of a shuttle having the preferred embodiment of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in cross-section; and

45 Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views, in perspective, of certain parts of the bobbin holding means.

The shuttle shown on the drawing includes the usual wooden body I having a longitudinal cavity 2 for receiving the filling carrying bobbin 3. The

50 bobbin is provided with a butt portion 4 which has rings 5, 5 to be gripped by opposed jaws 6 and l for holding the bobbin in the cavity 2. In the operation of the shuttle in a loom, the bobbin 3 is ejected from the shuttle and a fresh bobbin 55 inserted whenever the filling supply F on the bob- In some instances, proper gripping 1937, Serial No. 157,776

bin becomes substantially exhausted. changing of bobbins requires that the jaws 6 and '1 separate or move away from each other and then move together to grip the butt of the fresh provided with a recess it! which is located at the end of and communicates with the cavity-2. An inclined bobbin guide ll is provided with a horizontal top plate l2 and a horizontal bottom plate 13 which are located in the recess It]. The plates l2 and i3 are fixed in the recess as by screws I41 and I5. Two vertical pivot pins l6 and I1 extend between the plates l2 and I3 and have their upper and lower ends fixed in said plates. The shank ends 8 and 9 are positioned in the recess I0 between the plates I2 and I3 and are apertured (see Fig. 4) to receive the pins 16 and, I1, whereby the jaws 6 and l are separately pivoted in the recess 10.

The jaws 6 and 1 project from the recess Ill into the cavity 2 and, being pivoted, may swing toward and away from each other to permit insertion or ejection of the bobbin. The jaws accordingly need not be capable of flexing intermediate their ends and are preferably of such thickness that they are substantially rigid. Movement of the jaws toward each other may be limited by abutting stop shoulders l8 and I9 formed integrally with the jaws. The exact construction by which the jaws are pivotally supported is notof particular importance except that, as will become apparent, the pivotal axis of the jaws should be at the end of the jaws.

The present invention provides a separate spring for yieldingly urging the jaws 6 and 1 together, the preferred embodiment of such spring being shown at 20 on the drawing. This spring 20 is formed from a flat strip of spring material, preferably steel, bent to extend around the pivoted ends of the bobbin gripping jaws. As thus bent, the spring 20 constitutes an open sided loop of which a portion 2! extends transversely of the pivoted ends 8 and 9 of the jaws. The ends 22 and 23 of the loop are bent or curved around the ends of the jaws and thence toward each other. The ends 22 and 23 of the loop engage the sides of the jaws 6 and I being preferably seated in notches 24 and 25 in the jaws.

The particular spring 20 shown extends loosely around the ends of the jaws, i. e., the loop is sufficiently large that the spring does not grip the This jaws. The shape of the spring is such, however, that the ends 22 and 23 thereof press against the jaws 6 and I and urge the latter together. The points of engagement of the spring ends with the jaws are between the pivot pins 16, I1 and the bobbin engaging ends of the jaws and preferably close to the said pivot pins. A comparatively slight flexing of the spring 20 will permit the bobbin gripping ends of the jaws to separate the required distance. Such slight flexing of the spring precludes any possibility of the spring being subjected to dangerously high stresses.

The advantages of the preferred embodiment, above described, will be obvious and need not be enumerated. Having fully disclosed said preferred embodiment of the invention I claim:

1. A loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and a recess at one end of said cavity, opposed bobbin gripping jaws each pivoted at one end in said recess and projecting into said cavity, and a separate spring comprising an open sided loop of spring material extending around the pivoted ends of said jaws, the ends of said spring loop engaging said jaws and yieldingly urging the same together.

2. A loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and a recess at one end of said cavity, opposed bobbin gripping jaws each pivoted at one end in said recess and projecting into said cavity, and a separate spring comprisimg an open sided loop of flat spring material extending loosely around the pivoted ends of said jaws, the ends of said spring loop being bent toward each other and engaging the sides of said jaws for yieldingly urging the jaws together.

3. A loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and a recess at one end of said cavity, opposed bobbin gripping jaws each pivoted at one end in said recess and projecting into said cavity, said jaws being rigid and being provided with abutting stop shoulders limiting movement of the jaws toward each other, and a separate spring comprising an open sided loop of flat spring material extending around the pivoted ends of said jaws, the ends of said spring loop being bent toward each other and being seated in notches in the sides of said jaws, for yieldingly urging the jaws together.

. 4. A loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and a recess at one .end of said cavity, opposed bobbin gripping jaws each separately pivoted at one end. in said recess and projecting into said cavity, said jaws being rigid, and a separate spring for yieldingly urging said jaws together, said spring consisting of a strip of flat spring material extending transversely of the pivoted ends of said jaws and having its ends curved around said ends of said jaws and seated in notches in the sides of the latter. 5. A loom shuttle comprising a shuttle body having a bobbin-receiving cavity and a recess at one end of said cavity, top and bottom plates fixed in said recess, two vertical pivot pins fixed to said plates, opposed bobbin gripping jaws having shank portions positioned between said plates and pivoted on said pins, said jaws being rigid and projecting into said cavity, and a separate spring comprising an open sided loop of fiat spring material positioned between said plates and extending loosely around the pivoted ends of said jaws, the ends of said spring loop engaging the sides of the shank portions of said jaws and yieldingly urging the jaws together.

FREDRIC E. DOUGLAS. 

